Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Snallygaster

In this episode, we sink our teeth into the Snallygaster - Maryland's favorite nightmare with wings - and the surprisingly problematic history lurking beneath the folklore. Then we visit the Snallygaster Museum, where myth, tourism, and dark history collide.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

Cascades Female Factory

The Cascades Female Factory operated between 1828 and 1856, serving as one of Australia's most notorious penal institutions for women. In this episode, we visit the remains of the factory to uncover the harsh realities of convict life. While the site now stands in quiet ruin, its history speaks loudly of the cost of empire and the women who endured it. 

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

Krampusnacht

In this episode, we dive into the chilling Alpine legend of Krampus - the horned, cloven-hoofed enforcer of Saint Nicholas who doesn't just reward good behavior, but punishes the naughty. From medieval folklore to modern mayhem, we trace how this demonic figure survived through the centuries to become a beloved terror of the holiday season. Then we take you straight into the heart of Salzburg's Christkindlmarkt, where the annual Krampuslauf turns the festive streets into a riot of rattling chains, roaring masks, and firelit chaos.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Empty Library

In this episode of The Twilight Traveler, we head to Berlin to revisit the 1933 Nazi book burnings—a night when thousands of banned works were thrown into the flames in the name of ideological purity. Our journey continues to the Empty Library memorial at Bebelplatz, where a glass window reveals rows of vacant shelves below the square, a quiet but powerful reminder of the voices erased.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Chapel of the Martyrs

Join me on a visit to Otranto's Chapel of the Martyrs, where rows of skulls stare from behind glass and centuries-old tragedy hangs heavy in the air. In this episode, we walk through the chapel's dim corridors, unpack the story of the 800 victims memorialized here, and reflect on what it feels like to stand in the presence of their preserved remains.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

Sloss Furnaces

Once a roaring symbol of Birmingham's industrial might, Sloss Furnaces now stands silent, its towering stacks and rusted machinery a grim reminder of the men who toiled, and sometimes perished, within its fiery depths. In this episode, we explore the dark history surrounding one of Alabama's most infamous landmarks.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

Franklin Castle

In this episode, we're heading to Cleveland, Ohio to visit the mysterious Franklin Castle, a mansion steeped in tragedy, rumor, and restless spirits. Together, we'll explore its shadowy halls, uncover the truth behind its haunted reputation, and see why this house continues to capture the imagination of ghost hunters and skeptics alike.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

Castle Mountain Internment Camp

In today's episode, we'll explore the Crystal Mountain Internment Camp at Canada's Banff National Park, where "enemy aliens" were once held during World War 1. We'll visit the First World War Internment Exhibit and uncover the difficult truths behind Canada's mountain paradise.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Broad Street Cholera Outbreak

In this episode, we're heading back to 1854 London, where a simple water pump became the source of terror. Join me as I trace the deadly path of the Broad Street cholera outbreak and visit the replica Broad Street Pump that still stands as a reminder of one of London's most tragic moments in public health history.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Pope Lick Monster

This week, we're heading deep into the eerie woods of Louisville, Kentucky — home to one of America's strangest legends: The Pope Lick Monster. From chilling sightings on the infamous Pope Lick Bridge to the local Goatman Festival that celebrates the myth, we're exploring how folklore, fear, and tragedy collide.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Kansas City Massacre

On June 17, 1933, a routine prisoner transfer outside Kansas City’s Union Station turned into a deadly ambush that shook the nation. In this episode, I uncover the story behind the Kansas City Massacre — a violent shootout that claimed the lives of four law enforcement officers and led to major changes within the FBI. Then, I visit Union Station itself to explore how this beautiful landmark still bears the weight of its dark past.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Island of the Dolls

This week, I drift through Mexico's Xochimilco canals to uncover the eerie legend of the Island of the Dolls. Once home to a recluse who decorated the trees with discarded dolls to ward off restless spirits, the island now draws curious travelers seeking both beauty and unease. 

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

Seneca Village

This week on The Twilight Traveler, I uncover the story of Seneca Village, the 19th-century Black community in Manhattan that was destroyed to make way for Central Park. We’ll explore the history, the displacement, and how the new Central Park exhibition works to honor what was lost.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Haymarket Affair

In this episode, I journey to Chicago's Haymarket Square, where a labor rally in 1886 turned into one of the most infamous tragedies in U.S. history.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Budapest Ghetto

In this episode, I uncover the history behind the Shoes on the Danube memorial, a chilling tribute to the Hungarian Jews executed along the river during World War II. We’ll explore the history, symbolism, and emotional weight of this memorial, reflecting on how public memory keeps the echoes of atrocity alive.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

Night Parade of 100 Demons

In this episode, I explore the legend of the Hyakki Yagyō — the Night Parade of 100 Demons. Rooted in Japanese folklore, this eerie procession of yokai was once believed to roam the streets at night, punishing any human unlucky enough to witness it. Today, the myth is brought to life at the Kai Kai Festival in Toei Kyoto Studio Park, where costumed yokai wander the grounds in a theatrical reenactment of the parade.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

Andersonville Prison

In today's episode, I journey to Andersonville, GA to visit the haunting site of the Andersonville Prison — one of the Civil War's most infamous POW camps. Known for its inhumane conditions and staggering death toll, Andersonville Prison stands as a grim reminder of wartime cruelty and human endurance. 

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The LaLaurie Mansion

In this chilling episode, I explore the LaLaurie Mansion — a place steeped in mystery, horror, and legend. Once home to Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a socialite with a sinister secret, this grand Creole mansion holds stories of unspeakable cruelty and restless spirits. Join me as I uncover the twisted history, sift through fact and folklore, and confront the dark legacy that still haunts Royal Street today.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Great Fire of Chinatown

In the shadows of paradise, a deadly blaze tore through Honolulu’s Chinatown in 1900 — but was it truly an accident, or something far more sinister? In this episode, I unravel the haunting story behind the fire that consumed 38 acres, left thousands homeless, and exposed deep racial tensions and public health paranoia.

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Kimberly Straub Kimberly Straub

The Death of Jennie Wade

In this episode, I unravel the tragic story of Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg. I’ll also take you inside the home where she was killed — now a museum dedicated to Jennie Wade and civilian life during the Civil War.

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